San Diego County, CA Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Environmental Health and Quality
- Max daily penalty
- $1,000 per day
- Geographic scope
- Countywide, incl. consenting cities
- Appeal window
- Filed with Clerk of the Board
- Trigger
- Property that breeds/harbors vectors
Summary
San Diego County can cite property that harbors mosquitoes or other disease vectors as a public nuisance, and the Department of Environmental Health and Quality can order the owner to abate it.
"Public Nuisance" means...(1) Any property, excluding water, that has been artificially altered from its natural condition so that it now supports the development, attraction, or harborage of vectors. The presence of vectors in their developmental stages on a property is prima facie evidence that the property is a public nuisance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-141: Administrative: Current through Ord. No. 11007 (N.S.), effective 7-10-26 | Regulatory: Current through Ord. No. 11008 (N.S.), effective 7-24-26).
Full Breakdown
The County's Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) acts as the county's mosquito abatement and vector control district under Government Code § 25842.5, covering the unincorporated area and every incorporated city that consented to the arrangement. Property altered so it now breeds or harbors vectors is a public nuisance; the presence of vectors in a developmental stage is treated as prima facie evidence of the violation. DEHQ can inspect property, issue a Notice and Order to Abate, and let the owner appeal to a county hearing officer before enforcing.
Violations & Fines
Civil penalty up to $1,000 per day the nuisance continues past the deadline in the Notice and Order to Abate; DEHQ can also abate directly and bill the owner for the County's costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a vector nuisance on my property?
Can I fight a Notice and Order to Abate?
Does this apply inside the City of San Diego too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego County to another location·View the California public health rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.